Liquid dispensing device



July 3l, 1951 H. E. ROGERS ET AL. 2,552,212

LIQUID DISPENSNG DEVICE y v l A ATTORNEY H. E. ROGERS ET AL LIQUID DISPENSING DEVICE July 31, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed May l0, 1948 lNVENToRS.

Harp/d E. Rogers w/ D. Boerr TTORNEY vJuly 3l, 1951 H, E, ROGERS Er AL 2,562,212

LIQUID DISPENSING DEVICE Filed May 10. 1948 I5 Sheets-Sheet 3 1N V EN TORS A TTORNEY Patented Ju'ly 31, v11951 t UNITED STATES PATENT 'oi-FICE l l LIQUID nllfizsllso nEvIoE A* Harold E. Rogers and Gail D. Doerr, Denver, Co1o. 'I

Application May 1o, 194s, serial No. 26,076

11 Claims. (Cl. 222-181) l The present invention relates to liquid dispensing devices. It has to do particularly, although not exclusively, with coin-controlled, manuallyoperated, or mechanically-operated dispensing devices for liquors, or the like, in predeterminedaccurate quantities, such as individual portions of one ounce fluid measure.

' Generally speaking,` the present invention relates to a coin-controlled dispensing device or apparatus for dispensing, for a predetermined amount of money, a predetermined quantity of liquid. The device comprises, preferably, a casing formed in two or more compartments which is capable of being secured to a bar or counter in a position accessible yto an attendant, such as a bartender, or a patron, whereupon by the placement of a coin of given denomination into the device or apparatus, and by a simple `manual or mechanical operation, a predetermined quantity of a given beverge, or the like, may be dispensed into a glass. The improved device or apparatus includes valve mechanism which is so arranged, proportioned and adjusted as to give forth or dispense an accurate and predetermined quantity of liquid with each operation, it being one of the important features or the present invention to so regulate the length and time of movement of the valve as to permit the passage of only the exact predetermined amount of liquid into the glass or other container with each paid operation of the apparatus.

One of the objects of the present invention is to provide a device or apparatus of the foregoing character having improved valve means and valve actuating means disposed between a source of liquid supply anda glassor container which functions rapidly and efficiently upon the insertion of a coin oi predetermined denomination to dispense a given amount of liquid into the glass o other container.

VAnother object of the present invention is to provide an improved liquid dispensing device or apparatus which is coin controlled and manually or mechanically operated, having improved valve means and valve vactuating means which'will serve to dispense a predetermined quantity of liquid such, Vfor example, as one ounce of the-liquid, during a predetermined amount of movementor travel of the valve, such as one inch of travel of said valve.`

`A further object of the present invention is to provide a dispensing device or apparatus, as

referred'to "above, in which .an individual bottle4 o'iliquid, such asa bottle of spirituous liquor, vis

placedinjinverted position Vwithin the apparatusN and locked therein in a position to maintain a quantity of the liquor in a dischargeable reservoir at all times, said reservoir containing only a predetermined quantity of the liquor, comparable to the amount to which it is desired to dispense upon a single operation of the device or apparatus.

' Another object of the present invention is to provide structure, as aforesaid, in which the constantly supplied reservoir is provided with contents-discharging means which can be moved to discharging position by manually or mechanically actuated means which is coin controlled.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an improved liquid dispensing apparatus for receiving and dispensing the contents of individual bottles, in which the apparatus includes a coin-controlled, manually or mechanically-operated dispensing valve assembly in which the assembly includes means for determining the amount of travel of the valve from its closed to its opened position, and vice versa, to thusI regulate the quantity of liquid dispensed during each 0peration of the valve assembly.

A further object of the present invention is -to provide a removable stopper for application to the neck of a bottle of liquid to permit the uncapped or uncorked bottle to be inverted and placed in the apparatus or dispensing device of the present invention Without the danger of the accidental discharge of the contents of the bottle.

The foregoing and other objects and advantages of the present invention Will appear from the following description and appended claims When considered in connection with the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts inthe several views.

' In said drawings:

Fig. 1 is a vertical sectional elevation, shown in perspective, of one form of coin-controlled dispensing device or apparatus embodying the present invention, said device being shown mounted upon a bar surface or counter.

Fig. 2 is a fragmentarydetail vertical sectional View, partly in elevation, of the valve assembly and power-operated means for actuating the valve, being a modification of the actuating means of Fig. 1. Y

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary elevational view, taken generally along the line 3--3 of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary elevational view, taken generally along theline i-li of Fig. 2, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figf5 is a vertical sectional View, partly in ele- 3 vation, illustrating one type of coin-controlled mechanism employed in connection with the present invention.

Fig. 6 is a detail sectional view, partly in elevation, showing the relationship of the coin tripped arm or lever and the valve actuating stem or shaft; and

Fig. '7 is a fragmentary elevation of the mechanism of Fig. 6 taken substantially along the line 'I-'l of Fig. 6, looking in the direction of the arrows.

Before explaining in detail the present invention, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and arrangement of parts illustratecl in the accompanying drawings, since the invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced or carried out in various ways. It is to be understood also that the phraseology or terminology employed herein is for the purpose oi description and not of limitation, and it is; not intended to limit the invention herein claimed beyond the requirements of the prior art.

Referring now particularly to Fig. l of the drawings, there is shown in this iigure one form of liquid dispensing apparatus or device embodying the present invention. The apparatus herein shown is mounted upon the top surface of a bar or counter B and comprises a casing or housing having a lower portion or section I and an upper and somewhat smaller portion or section II. One sid-e wall of the apparatus has been removed for purposes of clarity, but it is to be understood that this side wall (not shown) may be in the form of a one-piece plate or closure which is slipped on to the casing portions I and I I and locked or clamped in place in any suitable manner and by any suitable locking means (not shown). As a matter of fact, however, the closure may be in the form of a plate or door for the casing portion le and a separate plate or door for the casing portion II, both plates or doors being, if desired, hingedly mounted upon their respective casing portions. Thus, by providing two separate side closure plates or doors (not shown) the upper plate or door (also not shown) may be opened without disturbing the lower plate or door to permit the removal of an empty bottle or liquid container and the substitution of a full bottle or container, such as the bottle A.

The lower casing portion or section I5 has a top wall Ida which isV provided with an opening which receives a socket into which the neck of the inverted bottle A is inserted. The socket will be described in detail below.

The lower portion I of the casing houses a coin box or receptacle I2 having an access opening or locked door (not shown) which receives coins from a coin slot I3 which have been inserted through an exposed coin slot opening Iii, see Figs. 1 and 5. Coin slot or passage I3- has associated with it coin detector and rejector mechanism oi some suitable conventional type, such as that produced by National Slug Reiectors, Inc., of St. Louis, Missouri, such mechanism being describedk more in detail below and being illustrated in Figs. 5, 6 and '7 of th drawings.

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1 to 4i, inclusive, there is shown in these figures the details of two forms of valve assembly and valve actuating mechanism for eiecting the accurate dispensing of a predetermined quantity of liquid from the bottle A to the glass or other container 4 C of Fig. 1. The valve assembly is preferably in the form of a body I5 having a cylindrical bore, usually a casting, the-body having attached to its outer upper wall a ring-like socket or projecting portion i6 which is preferably cast integrally with the body I5. A ferrule II is preferably slipped over the sleeve member IE, and this assembly is adapted to be positioned within the opening 9 of casing Wall or partition Iila. The opening 9 is of such size that the socket members IE, I'i will have a relatively snug fit in it when the valve body i5 is in the position in which it is shown in Fig. 1. The socket assembly includes a rubber sleeve or liner I8 into which the neck portion of bottle A is inserted.

The tubular body I5 of the valve assembly receives and supports a reciprocable valve I9 which is mounted upon a stein 2() which extends outwardly through an opening in the casing front wall and is provided with an operating handle or ringer piece 2 I. The inner end portion of valve stem 26 extends into the pocket portion of a removable cap 22 which is preferably attached to the inner end of body I5. This member 22, may, if desired, be welded or otherwise secured to the rear wall of casing portion IIJ. rEhe forward or outer end of body I5 is provided with a removable closure cap 23 having a centrally disposed guide member 24 through which the valve stem 20 projects. The upper wall of body I5 has an opening or passageway 25 and the lower wall thereof, an opening or passageway 2. The upper opening or passageway 25 communicates with the interior of socket portion I6 and with the bottle A. The opening 26 communicates with a cup-like reservoir, chamber, or receptacle 2l which is adapted to be lled successively with liquid from bottle A upon the authorized manipulation of the valve I9. Op-

posed compression springs 28 and 29 surround the stein 2e on opposite sides of valve I9, one end of eachspring seating or resting against the valve with the opposite end thereof engaging its respective closure cap 22 or 23, as the case may be.

The cup-like reservoir or container member 2'1 is provided with an opening 21a in its base whichis in communication with a tube or conduit 30 which nts into a discharge spout 3| mounted in an opening in the front wall of lower casing section or portion Il). the ow of liquid from bottle A through valve body I5 intothe cup-like reservoir 21 and thence through discharge conduit 3l] and delivery spout4 3i into glass C'.

. The opening 21a in member 2'1 is normally closed by a disc-like valve 33 carried by a swingable stern 34 which is pivotally mounted at 35v upon aV depending arm or bracket 36. of the valve assembly, the liquid-receiving cup JI` and the valve 33 for the latter, and its associated parts,v are identical or substantially so, inv

piece 21I and depending arm 2Ia4 may be moved,

as a unit from their broken-line positions ofFig,

1 inwardly to their 'full-line positions to cause. pin-2lb to swing valve arm 34V inajclockwise di-Y Arrows 32 serve to indicate,

The partsA rection about its pivot 35'1to unseat valve 33 and to thus permit the liquid contents ofl cup-likel valve I9 is moved outwardly to its broken-line,

position, as seen in Fig. 1. By thus unseating valve I9, a predetermined quantity of liquid from bottle A ows through passages 25 and 26 into the cup-like receptacle or storage` container 21.

The spring 28 now functions promptly toreturn valve I9 to its seat, as seen in full lines, and

thus cut off the ilow of liquid from bottleAto receptacle 21 after the exact and predetermined measured amount of liquid has passed through the passageways. springs 28 and 29 are so proportioned and operate in opposition to one another in such a manner as to definitely control the quantity of liquid allowed to ow through the passages, vthis quantity being determined by the speed of action or movement of valve I3 under the inuence of the opposed springs 28 and 29. By varying the adjustment and/or the strength of these springs, the quantity of liquid which is allowed to flow into receptacle 21 may be Varied at will.

It will be understood, of course, that the depending arm 2 Ia is xed in any suitable manner to valve stem 20. lt will also be understood that pin 2lb carried by said arm may be arranged at dierent locations on the arm or may be of different diameters or thickness so as to engage the valve stem or arm 34 at diiierent times and at diierent positions of arm 2 Ia, with relation to valve stem or arm 34.

It is, of course, helpful in carrying out .the

It will be understood that theV electric lamp-.bulb50inounted upon casing' wall'VV Illa. ...Current may .bef suppliedto this lamp .bulb in any. suitab1e..man.ner Aand from any suitable sourceI Referring .now particularly to Fig. 2 of the drawings, there is shown in this figure a somewhat modifiedmeansfor. actuating valves I9 andv 33. In accordance lwith this form of the inven-V tion,v valve stem 20. .and depending arm 2 Ia may fbe. shifted frointhe full-lineposition of Fig. 2f

to the brokenrline. position of Fig. 2 by means of a cam .member 5I. mountedlu'pon the shaft 53 of an electric..motorV 52. The .electric motor is startedin operationi.by..the. insertion of acoin.

la; ofithe proper denomination into coin slot I3, I4,

Whereuponthe coin .trips-ani arm (not shown in. Fig. 2) Vto release. stem 20and yalso actuates themotor t'o rotate camEI.v .When so shifted to the.I right of Fig. 2, valve-.I9 moves to its broken-line ,205i and seated position to close communication between passages 25 and .26 and removes valve 33. from its seat surrounding the liquid discharge. opening in the bottom of receptacle 21. When the contents of receptacle 21 has been discharged.

253 through conduit 33 to a glass, such as glass C? of Fig. 1, cam 5I hasmoved to permit valve stem and depending .arm 2 I a to return to their normal positionstoward the left in Fig.. 2, with valve 33 having been moved back to its seated position by 4tension spring 31. It will be noted thatvalve. I9 normally remains in its full-line position when the dispensing device is not being operated. This allows liquid to flow from bottle A through the connecting passageways to ll the cup-like `receptacle 21,..t o.be in readiness to dispresent invention to provide removable means to be placed in the neck of bottle A after its cap or other closure has been removed to permit said bottle to be inverted and placed in thesocket I 6, I1, I8 of the dispensing device Without spilling.

the contents thereof. For this purpose, there is provided a removable closure member which comprises a sleeve 4D having at its outer end a pair of crossed bars 4I through which the stem 43 of a disc valve 42 may pass. The stem 43 carries a tension spring 44 whose opposite endsI are attached in any suitable manner to valve 42 and one of the crossed bars 4I so that thetendency of the spring is to seat valve 4I against the inner end of sleeve 4U to seal the contents of the bottle. As seen in Figs. 1 and 2, the socket I6 has disposed within it in the vicinity of passage of valve body I 5, a free ball valve 45 which, as shown, is mounted upon a pairV of crossed bars 46 which provide a seat for the ball. When, the bottle is inverted and inserted into socket I6, ball 45 engages valve stem 43v and Ylifts valve 42 from its seat against the action of tension spring 44. This permits liquid to ilow through the tubular stopper member and into passage- Way 25 formed in the valve body I5.

The upper portion II of the casing is preferably formed from metal although there may be a strip of sight glass (not shown) inserted in the front or other wall thereof so that a brand or label on bottle A can be seen by the customer. It may be desirable to illuminate the section II and for this purpose thereis show n in FigLljan pense one portion of liquidvr upon the insertion of another coin andthe second operation of electric motor 52 and cam\5 I.

As in the precedingform of the invention, the opposed compression springs 28 and 29 function to regulate the speed of movement of valve I9 and its stem 20. By .varying the strength of these springs `and by suitable adjustment, the quantity of liquid which is allowed to pass into the receptacle21 maybe regulated accurately. This quantity is also regulatableby virtue of the particular form of cam member. 5i which is employed.

The cup-like receptacle 21 of Fig. 2 is clamped in position preferably by means of a clamping or U-shaped strap member 55, see particularly Figs. 3 and 4. This member depends from the main valve assembly including body I5 and extends downwardly beneath the lower end of the receptacle 21. The memberv 55 carries an adjustment screw 56 which is Vthreaded through the base portionmof member 55 and which carries a foot piece 51 adapted, tocontact the base of an extension from the receptacle 21. The screw or threaded stud 55 is provided with an adjusting finger piece 58 which when turned in a clockwise direction will forcethe Yremember 51 into contact with said extension.- The ringer piece 58 may be,

. turned in a counter-clockwise direction to release pressure and to permit release-of the cup-like 'rchamber or receptacle 21.

mechanism of the coin slot .I 3 which is illustrated generally in Fig.,I l. 'I heparticular mechanism disclosed in these figures ispurchased from the anonime.

f'ormsofthe invention, isy slottedatlazto receive,

a .pivoted valve stem latching rod or member.

6.0. This rod 6l] is urgedi to: its. latching:y position..

Within slot 22a by a tension spring 6 I. When,. howevera coin of the properdenomination passes downwardly through slot1I3 (see Fig. 5) to the proper position, the arm 6.0 is tripped anctreleased from engagement in the slotin theyalvefste'm or' rod 2ll,.thus permitting: thestem. to:` be recipro cated inthe manner as. described above, either;

manually or by motor-driven. cam I.

As seen in Fig. 7, the rod; 60 is fulcrumedon pin 62V and carries at its end an'oiset projecting portion e3 which extends. into. theicoinsl'oti I3.

With reference particularlyto Figs. krand 6, the:v

two paths. traversed by'arcoin which is inserted in. the entrance I4; of coin slotA I'31are. illustratedbyv broken-line circles'D.. In.,Fig..5; a pendulumzt'.

isv disposed atvr one side of. the coin: slot. and. an.. undersize level 6G at:A the opposite side of said slot. A; coin'passing these two membersengages;`

a* rail 6l' and is directed: byxar pairof magnetslliV andjt. The mechanism includes a Wiper blade 1.0 disposed in the'. vicinity.v of the magnets, and the. particular wiperblade. herein shown. is'. designed for use in connection with: twenty-ve cent pieces. A coin after passing, the magnets 68 and E9, if of: the. right" denomination, namely av tWenty-five cent. piece; Will: engage ccinseparator H and thence drop into coin box l2. If aV coin' of' another denomination, or if' a slug. is inserted into the slot opening I4', the'- detector and rejector mechanism willi function. to cause this coin to.

move. fromY magnet' 69' in ai pathi to the leftzin Fig. 5, engaging a railor platforrnTZ and be Ydis charged from casing portion Ill into af receptacle i3.. provided especiallyfor rejected coins.

In view of the fact that the'present dispensing apparatus or machine employs in its combination conventional time-controlled mechanism such as that herein referred to and illustrated particularly in Fig; 5, it is deemed unnecessary herein to describe this mechanism in greater detail.

The casing of the dispensing apparatusl may be secured in place upon aY barl or counter in anyr suitable manner and by any suitabley means (not shown) to permit it to be easily attached to or" removed from said counter. Moreover, ifdesirable, a single casing or housing', similar to that illustrated in Fig. l, maybe made of larger proportions so as toV accommodate a plurality of series of dispensing bottles` or other containers, along with independent and individual coincontrolled mechanism and valveassemblies and actuating means so that several dierent kinds` y of liquids may be dispensed from within a-common casing or apparatus. er and lower portions Aor sections ofthe casing as disclosed in Fig. 1 may be'made into separateV purchaser is not only assured of obtaining the brand of liquor which'he desires, but also-thev exact quantity which is represented bythe dee nomination of the coin inserted in'the*V machine'.

This eliminates cheating which-is soprevalent` Furthermore, the upf By' using the present coin-controlled apparatus, the' 8T among'. dispensarios; of. spirituous liquors and oth-V errbeverages. Moreover, by the use of apparatus or: devices. embodying the present invention, thev owner. or operator of the dispensary effects great savings byfelim'inating the usual loss of. stock due. to dishonest practices perpetrated by his.

employees.

Having thus described the invention, what is' claimed. is:

11. A liquidv dispensing apparatus comprising a casingV havingY lower and upper portions, a partition` wall'between the upper and lower portions having an opening formedA therein, a relatively deep bottle neck-receivingsocket disposed within' said opening toy receive and support a bottle of liquid' in. inverted. position, a valveassembly associated with said socket, a reciprocable valve and valve stem within the valve assembly, a reservoir in communication with and attached to said valve assembly for maintaining a prede--V termined quantity of liquid received from said inverted bottle, a discharge spout extending from the lower end of the reservoir to a point outside said lower casing member, a movable valve for controlling communication between the reservoir and? discharge spout, common means associated with said reciprocable valve and said reservoir valve and including an arm depending from and movable with said valve stem for moving said valves'- at predetermined times to transfer a predetermined quantity of liquid from the reservoir to the discharge spout land a like predetermined quantity ofliquid from the bottle to the reser- Voir, and Ispring means-disposed at opposite sides.

of the reciprooable valve to control the amount and speed of travel of said valve.

2. Structure according to claim l, wherein said common means includes a manually movable handlel adapted to be moved in one directionto shift the reciprocable' valve andV to be moved in the opposite direction under the action ofthe spring. means associated with said valve.

3.' In a liquid dispensing apparatus, theccmb ination of a casing having upper and lower compartmentssepa-rated by a substantially horizontal'wall, said wallY having anopeningV formed therein, a liquid flow control valve assembly having asbody portion anda reciprccable valve therein, said-valve body portion having passage- Ways-formed in itsupper and lower'walls, a'bottie neck-receiving socket mounted upon said valve body and having.l its upper portion located within the opening in thel substantially horizontal wall, a non-metallic lining for said'socliet againstwhichthe neck of a bottle rests when in inverted position within the upper compartment of'v the casing,v a Valve stem carrying said valve and extending forwardlythrough an opening in a W-a-llof the lower compartment and having an external ringer piece thereon, said upper passageway andthe interior of said socket and the bottle being in communication', a detachable reservoir-removably clamped tothe underside of thevalvefbody and surrounding the lower passageway in said body, said reservoir having an opening formed' in vitsl lowerv end communicating with'a dischargefspout extending through a wall of the lower compartment and terminating exteriorly thereof; a movable valve located within the discharge spout and having an actuating.

stein-*projecting outside said spout forv closing the opening Vin the reservoir, springmeans for normally maintaining said valve .in closed lposi-n tion, rreleasable means associated with the yfirstnamed' valve stem for maintaining saidstem 9 normally immovable to permit manual or other movement oi said stem at predetermined times, means carried by said first-named valve stem and depending therefrom for contacting the sec- Y ond-named valve stem when the first-named valve is moved in one direction, spring means for seating the reservoir valve when the stem is moved in the opposite direction, an opposed spring means disposed at opposite sides f the rst-named valve for controlling the amount and speed of travel of said valve to thus determine the quantity of liquid which ows from the bottle into the reservoir.

4. Structure according to claim 3, wherein electric illuminating means is disposed within the casing to illuminate the bottle located therein, and wherein -a sight glass is disposed in a casing wall opposite said bottle.

5. Structure according to claim 3, wherein movable sealing is located in the bottle neck, and wherein means is located within the socket for unseating the sealing means when the inverted bottle is positioned within said socket.

6. Structure according to claim 3, wherein an electric motor and cam means are provided in lieu of said finger piece for actuating the liquid-controlling valve.

7. Structure according to claim 3, wherein the body of the valve assembly and the socket for receiving the neck of the bottle are formed integrally.

8. Structure according to claim 3, wherein adjustable means is provided for controlling the amount and speed of travel of the liquid-controlling valve whereby to determine the quantity of liquid allowed to 110W past said valve during each dispensing operation.

9. In a liquid dispensing apparatus, the combination of a casing for receiving and support- 10 ing a bottle of liquid to be dispensed, a socket 'provided to receive the bottle in inverted position, a valve assembly including a horizontally disposed body directly below and vin communication with the socket, a reservoir below and in communication with said body, a discharge spout associated with said reservoir, valve means located in the body for controlling the ow of liquid from the bottle to the reservoir in predetermined amounts, and separate valve means for controlling the iiow of liquid from the reser- Voir to the discharge spout.

10. Structure according to claim 9, whereinv means is provided for effecting the simultaneous operation of said valves.

l1. Structure vaccording to claim 9, wherein an electric motor and cam means are provided for effecting the simultaneous operation of both valves.

HAROLD E. ROGERS'. GAIL D. DGERR..

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS 

